Jacksonville, FL — May 5, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 8:30 a.m. on northbound Interstate 295.

Authorities said a box truck crashed into a semi-truck that had stopped in traffic in the center lane of the interstate near State Road 202. The box truck spun into the right shoulder after the collision.

The box truck driver, a 48-year-old man from Jacksonville Beach, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. The semi-truck driver was not injured.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Duval County crash. The accident is still being investigated.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a box truck crashes into the back of a stopped semi-truck in the center lane of a major highway, the legal questions quickly come down to why the trailing driver didn’t stop in time, and whether the semi-truck’s presence in that lane was lawful and foreseeable. In this fatal crash on I-295 near State Road 202, a Jacksonville Beach man lost his life under circumstances that highlight the razor-thin margins for error in commercial vehicle operation.

At 8:30 on a weekday morning, traffic is often congested. It’s not unusual for vehicles to stop suddenly, even in the center lanes. Commercial drivers, especially those operating larger delivery vehicles like box trucks, are expected to maintain safe following distances, anticipate slowing traffic and remain constantly alert. When a rear-end collision like this occurs, that expectation becomes the centerpiece of any legal analysis.

That said, the investigation should not stop at the rear-end impact. Investigators need to determine why the semi-truck was stopped in the center lane. Was it due to traffic congestion, mechanical issues or some other unexpected obstruction? If traffic was backed up ahead, the stop may have been unavoidable. But if the truck was disabled or had come to an unsafe stop without warning, that raises additional concerns. Did the semi have its hazard lights on? Was it visible to approaching traffic? These details could affect the allocation of responsibility.

The box truck’s engine control module will likely reveal whether the driver attempted to brake and how much time they had to react. If the data shows no meaningful attempt to stop — or an extremely short reaction window — it could suggest distraction, inattention or simply a situation that developed too quickly to avoid.

Unfortunately, when heavy trucks are involved, even momentary lapses can become fatal. Unlike fender benders between passenger cars, a crash between two commercial vehicles almost always involves devastating force. The fatal outcome here underscores how unforgiving these situations are.

Ultimately, this crash shows how vital it is that both truck drivers, the one stopping and the one approaching, follow the safety rules that are supposed to keep everyone on the road alive. One failure is bad enough; two in sequence can be catastrophic. That’s why this investigation needs to go beyond just labeling the crash a “rear-end collision” and instead get to the bottom of why the truck was stopped, and whether the box truck driver ever had a real chance to avoid it.